Lower House advances Right to Access Information Law amendments, approves key provisions

AMMAN — The Lower House on Wednesday continued deliberations over the draft amendments for the  Right to Access Information Law, endorsing the eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth items, thereby approving 13 out of the bill's 16 items.

Item 8, which was approved by deputies after amendments, stipulates that "Departments shall periodically publish information concerning their organisational structure and functions, their operating mechanism and related legislation", the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The item also stipulates publishing information on the budget, details, items and distribution mechanisms, and, if any, the audit of the accounts, expenses and deficits of the department, as well as the financial surplus, if any.

The draft law also outline the publication of information on departments' programmes, plans and projects, where the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, the General Intelligence Department and the Public Security Directorate are excluded from the bill.

As per Item 9, "Departments shall designate a competent person to receive and handle requests for information.”

Requests shall be submitted in writing or electronically in accordance with the form adopted for this purpose containing the applicant's name, nationality and place of residence for the natural person and the headquarters of the legal person and the subject matter of the requested information. 

Upon receiving the application, the competent person shall give notice of receipt to the applicant, and the official shall answer or reject the application within 15 working days from the day following its submission, which may be extended once to another 10 days for justified reasons. 

If the application is rejected, a justified explanation is required. Failure to respond within the specified period is deemed to be a refusal. If the requested information is unavailable or destroyed over time, the applicant must be informed. The competent person shall also provide the necessary facilities for persons with disabilities, illiterates and the elderly.

Item 12 of the draft law emphasises that officials shall refrain from disclosing information acquired from another country under mutual confidentiality agreements. It also prohibits the disclosure of information that may harm national defence, state security or foreign policy.

The item also bans the disclosure of information containing analyses, recommendations, suggestions or consultations before a decision is taken, personal information, educational or medical records, job records, accounts, bank transfers or professional secrets.